dysfunction
Meaning of dysfunction: Dysfunction refers to the abnormal or impaired operation of an organ, system, or process, ranging from mild to severe depending on the cause.
Definition of dysfunction
Dysfunction describes an abnormality in how an organ, body system, or physiological process operates compared with its normal function. The word is broadly applied across medicine, appearing in terms such as erectile dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, and organ dysfunction, each referring to impaired function in a specific system.
The severity and pattern of dysfunction can vary widely, from a mild or intermittent change in function to a substantial loss of a system's normal activity. Dysfunction can result from structural damage, disease, medication effects, or other factors that interfere with an organ's usual role.
Because dysfunction is a general descriptive term rather than a specific diagnosis, it is typically paired with the name of the affected organ or system and further evaluated to determine the underlying cause.
Used in a sentence
Laboratory testing was ordered to evaluate for thyroid dysfunction given the patient's reported fatigue.
Good to know
Dysfunction describes impaired function rather than complete failure of an organ or system, so the term is often qualified by its severity, such as mild, moderate, or severe.
Word origin
Where “dysfunction” comes from
Formed from dys- (Greek, meaning "difficult" or "abnormal") and function, from Latin functio, meaning "performance" or "activity."